Recipes from Ale Mary's Craft Beer Hall

Posted: 1:29 PM, January 28, 2015Updated: 1:29 PM, January 28, 2015

Have you set the menu and made the beer list for your Super Bowl ultimate watch party yet?

If not, the beer experts at Powers Distributing are here to help make it a memorable event. According to Marketing Director Jeff Bright Orion Township-based Powers Distributing Co., there are a few must-have beers any football party host should stock in the fridge or cooler this year – among other beverage options.

They include:

Alaskan Brewing Company's Alaskan Amber – an alt style known for its malty, well-balanced flavor. It pairs perfectly with hearty dishes and pizza.

Dragonmead Microbrewery's Final Absolution – A signature beer brewed in Warren, Mich., this is Belgian Trippel known for its banana and clove aroma and smooth finish.

Miller Lite –Made with only the purest and highest quality ingredients since 1855, this sessionable light beer boasts only 96 calories in 12 ounces, making it a great choice – and taste for a beer to last the entire game, and accompany rich party foods. Have it on hand for those who go with the beers they know and love.

Sam Adams Cold Snap – This seasonal white ale blends the sweetness of orange and plum with a peppery bite of spicy coriander.

Bright said when it comes to the ultimate game of the season, making a party memorable comes down to a few core things: The perfect spot from which to watch the game, enough seating for the crowd, and above all else, the ideal menu. That means taking your usual football fare up a notch. Gone are the days of bagged chips and pre-packaged dip, with a six-pack of anything. Consider the crowd and the event. This represents the best of the best – and party hosts can do the same. Make yours a menu of comfort food dishes with flair. American made craft beers can add a lot to any menu – whether they're pouring directly into a pint glass, or the right recipe.

Bowled over by the Menu

Check out the following football-inspired menu additions, provided by Executive Chef Geoffrey Woodman of Ale Mary's Craft Beer Hall in Royal Oak. Woodman – who also represents Tom's Oyster Bar Royal Oak and Terry's Terrace - specializes in crafting dishes that guests can't get enough of whether watching sports or enjoying the company of friend. So when planning for a football finals watch party, he's shared a few favorites.

Ale Mary's Fatty's Final Beer Cheese Dip uses a combination of cheeses, a kick of garlic and jalapenos and smoky bacon. This dip and burger spread is unexpectedly elevated by the addition of Warren-based Dragonmead Microbrewery's Final Absolution. Featured in a dip, or a glass, it's a perfect choice for parties and sure to win over guests for the big game.

Recipe: Fatty's Final Beer Cheese Dip

Try it: As a dip, on burgers, with your favorite pita chips, with pretzel bun sticks.

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped applewood smoked bacon

6 jalapeños seeded and minced

1/2 cup minced garlic

2 1/2 cup aged white cheddar (grated)

2 1/2 cup smoked gouda (grated)

2 1/2 cup Velveeta

1 quart Dragonmead Final Absolution

1 1/2 quart heavy cream

Instructions:

In a heavy bottom soup pot or rondeaux, render the bacon on medium heat until it begins to crisp. Add jalapeños and minced garlic and sweat them for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 quart of beer, bring to a simmer, reduce by half. Add all 3 cheeses slowly, stirring often. Add cream. Once cheese is all melted, add other 1/2 quart of beer and let simmer for 30 minutes.

*if cooling and reheating for your guests at a later time, make sure you reheat on a low heat and stir very often until it is hot.

When it comes to a hearty addition to the party meal, Woodman suggests beer braised pulled pork, which can be started earlier in the weekend and finished the day of the game, to entice guests into the kitchen – even during the highly-anticipated commercials. For this recipe, Woodman's go-to beer is Michigan-made Saugatuck Brewing Company's Oval Beach Blonde Ale. He adds this easy drinking ale to a braising stew of orange juice, onions, diced tomatoes, garlic and cilantro for a fragrant cooking base or sauce.

Recipe: Beer Braised Pulled Pork

Try it: Make pulled pork sandwiches or sliders

Ingredients and Instructions:

1 Pork Shoulder (5-8lbs)

Dry Rub:

1 cups kosher salt

4 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons ground cumin

2 tablespoons ground coriander

Rub generously on Pork Shoulder, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Braising liquid:

2 quarts orange juice

2 quarts Saugatuck Brewing Company's Oval Beach Blonde Ale

1 yellow onion large diced

1 tomato large diced

12 cloves of garlic

1/2 cup cilantro rough chopped

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. In separate soup pot, heat beer and orange juice until hot. Remove pork from refrigerator. In Rondeaux, or Dutch oven sear pork on high heat for 6 minutes each side using a small amount olive or vegetable oil of your choice. Add onion, tomato, garlic, and cilantro to the pot and allow to sweat for 5 minutes. Pour beer and orange juice mix over top of pork. Cover and place in oven for 5 hours. Remove from oven. Place for in separate container from liquid. Use tongs, forks, or hand to pull meat apart. If cooked properly, meat should just fall apart tender very easily. If it is still at all tough, return to oven covered for another hour and check it. Depending on your use for the pulled pork (sliders, tacos, bbq pork, etc) use the braising liquid for a sauce or base of sauce. Strain the liquid and place in a soup pot to reduce into a wonderfully flavorful citrusy beer gravy.

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